Georgetown, Guyana – It is with profound shock and immeasurable sorrow that the Cricket West Indies Masters Association extends its deepest condolences to the family of the legendary Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers, and to the entire global cricketing community, on his passing.

Sir Garfield was not simply the greatest cricketer the West Indies has ever produced; he was the soul of our game. A son of Barbados and a citizen of the world, his genius transcended statistics, though his records spoke with thunder: 8,032 Test runs, a once-unbroken 365 not out, 235 wickets, and a mastery of every facet of the sport that defined the term “all-rounder” for all time.

On behalf of every Masters cricketer who ever donned the maroon cap with pride, we mourn a hero who inspired generations to believe that a small group of islands could produce the greatest team on earth. His artistry with the bat, his cunning with the ball, and his electric presence in the field were the foundation upon which West Indian dominance was built and sustained.